Irvine Valley's women's basketball team moved up to the No. 1 ranked team in Southern California in the state coaches poll this week.
And the Lasers showed why with a dominant performance in a 76-39 victory over Riverside at home on Friday night.
It was Irvine Valley's first Orange Empire Conference game of the season after its first two contests were postponed due to health and safety protocols.
Coming off a 20-point win over previous No. 1 in So. Cal. Palomar last Saturday at home, Irvine Valley defeated Riverside by 37 points.
IVC improved its record to 12-2 overall. Riverside went to 6-9 overall and 0-2 in conference.
Irvine Valley took the lead from the start and never looked back. IVC led, 21-6, after the first quarter and was up, 33-14, at the half.
Irvine Valley scored its most points in a quarter in the third with 25 and held a 58-31 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
The Lasers shot 41.5 percent (27 of 65) from the field for the game, made 10 three-pointers and knoked down 12 of 16 free throws.
IVC also out-rebounded Riverside, 45-40 and help force the Tigers into 24 turnovers.
RCC shot just 26.8 percent (15 of 56) for the game.
Irvine Valley had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore point guard Morgan Higgins with 21 points. She added six rebounds. Higgins was a solid 8 of 9 from the field and made all five of her three-pointers.
Freshman forward Sarah Matossian had a double-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore guard Jessica Suruor added 13 points, four assists and three steals and sophomore guard Paola Roa had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Riverside was paced by Naiya Hamilton, who finished with 14 points. Shanon Jordan had seven rebounds and five assists for the Tigers.
Irvine Valley plays again next Monday in a conference game at Cypress at 6 p.m.
